Reel for use on spindles of different diameters



Jan. 31, 1961 F. B, GOLDMAN REEL FOR USE ON SPINDLES OF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS Filed Feb. 18, 1958 INVENTOR FELIX B GOLDMAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent REEL FOR USE ON SPINDLES OF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS Felix B. Goldman, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Texlon Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Feb. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 715,888 1 Claim. (Cl. 24271.8)

This invention relates to winding and reeling and more particularly to a reel or spool incorporating means for conveniently adapting the same for use on spindles of different diameters.

Ribbon for use in various manufacturing operations, such as the making of how ties and other articles of apparel is commonly supplied on spools or reels, which reels are mounted on spindles for feeding the ribbon during use thereof. Ribbon using machines of different makes have heretofore been supplied with reel receiving spindles of different diameters, but these have largely been standardized to the extent that such machines now have spindles of only two different diameters and consequently it has heretofore been necessary to supply ribbon on reels having central spindle receiving apertures of two different diameters in order to permit application of such reels to the above mentioned machines. Obviously, a single reel which could be conveniently utilized on spindles of either diameter would be advantageous in that, the necessity for manufacturing and obtaining reels having central apertures of two different diameters would be avoided and the matter of maintaining a suflicient supply of ribbon would be simplified in that, it would only be necessary to know the total number of reels on hand, rather than the number of reels having one spindle receiving diameter and reels having another spindle receiving diameter.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a reel which may be conveniently and economically manufactured from readily available material, such as cardboard or the like, and which includes means for conveniently adapting the same for use on spindles of different diameters.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a reel for use on spindles of different diameters and in which the ribbon receiving portion of the reel is in noway affected by the structure permitting variation of the size of the spindle receiving aperture.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a reel constructed of cardboard or the like, and including removable central portions which may be conveniently removed for adapting the reel for use on spindles of different diameters.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a reel for use on spindles of diflierent diameters in which the reel is originally supplied with a central aperture for receiving a spindle of one diameter and with removable portions which upon removal provide a central aperture for receiving a spindle of larger diameter.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a reel for use on spindles of different diameters in which removing central portions are joined to the remainder of the reel by lines of perforations in order to facilitate removal of such central portions to provide a spindle receiving aperture of enlarged diameter.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a reel constructed in accordance with this invention having a central aperture for receiving'a spindle of one diameter.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a side elevational view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the central portion of the reel removed in order to provide an aperture for receiving a spindle of larger diameter than the reel shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

With continued reference to the drawing, there is shown a reel 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention and which may well comprise a hollow hub 11 to the opposite end edges of which are secured spaced flanges 12 and 13. The hub 11, as well as the flanges 12 and 13 may be conveniently manufactured of cardboard, paper or any other suitable material and may also be conveniently manufactured in the same manner as the corresponding parts of conventional reels.

It is to be noted that the hub 11 is hollow and inwardly of such hub, the flanges 12 and 13 are provided with a circular line of perforations 14, the flanges 12 and 13 also being provided with central apertures 15 having a diameter to receive a spindle 16 of one diameter. Diametrically opposed slits 17 and 18 are provided in the material of each flange 12 and 13 and extend from the central aperture 15 to the line of perforation 14. The slits 17 and 18, as well as the line of perforations 14 operate to provide removable portions 19 and 20 which remain in place for use on the spindle 16 of one diameter and if the reel is only to be used on such a spindle, the portions 19 and 20 are never removed.

As stated above, however, certain types of machines are provided with reel receiving spindles of larger diameter than the spindle 16 and consequently, when it is desired to utilize the reel of this invention on such a machine, the portions 19 and 20 are removed along the line of perforations 14 which results in providing a central aperture 21, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, having a larger diameter than the central aperture 15 and adapted to receive a spindle 22 of larger diameter than the spindle 16. Since the reel is formed of a material, such as cardboard, the line of perforations 14 permit the convenient removal of the portions 19 and 20 by merely tearing the same along the line of perforations 14 from the slits 17 anid 18. When used on the smaller spindle 16, the portions 19 and 20 are firmly retained in place by the material between the perforations along the line 14.

It will be seen that by the above described invention there has been provided an improved reel structure which renders the same far more useful than conventional reels, in that, such reel may be utilized on machines having reel receiving spindles of different diameters thereby avoiding the necessity for obtaining reels having two different spindle receiving apertures. The line of perforations and the silts in the reel flanges may be conveniently formed during the flange forming operation and consequently the cost of manufacture is substantially the same as for conventional reels.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A reel comprising a hollow cylindrical hub, spaced flanges secured to the opposite end edges of said hub, said flanges having a central aperture for receiving a spindle of one diameter, a circular line of perforations in a 3- 4 each flange having a diameter greater than the diameter References Cited in the file of this patent of said aperture but less than the diameter of said hub UNITED STATES PATENTS and diametrically slits in the material of each flange extending between said aperture and said line of perfora 32 2? gig 2 tions whereby the material of each flange between said 5 2556844 Istwan June 1951 aperture and said line of perforations may be removed u to provide a central aperture in said flanges for receiving FOREIGN PATENTS 1 aspindle of larger diameter. I T 806,620 France Sept. 28, 1936 

